Paul, a consultant in his mid-40s, is called for the tenth time. The gate is closing: final boarding call. Paul hears his name again and again and enjoys it. For this one moment he is not efficient. He stands still. He freezes. He falls unexpectedly into a powerful angst that does not want to end, tumbling through memories of his childhood, his accomplishments, his failures, and his women, whom he remembers only vaguely. His unfulfilled longings return in full force. He could still become another person. But the next generation is crouching in the jungle for the one moment of weakness, for the end of his career.